Scott Davis, Hackensack High School’s Varsity Swim coach, will start his second season as head of the Lake Forest Swim Team this year.

Scott Davis, Hackensack High School’s (HHS) Varsity Swim coach, wants local kids to love swimming the same way his students love swimming and will take the helm of the Lake Forest Swim Team (LFST) again this summer.

Coach Davis has been teaching at HHS for five years. He has been a swim coach for 15 years, and is a lifelong swimmer. His coaching style is technically sound, and driven by a passion for the sport. He has infected his swimmers with that passion, and they have improved their team record steadily each year.

Not an easy feat for any high school team, the Comets finished a very respectable 8-3 this past season. But Davis believes the true measure of a successful season are the times swimmers post at the end of the season. The Bergen County Women Coaches Association agrees, and just named Davis its 2014 Coach of the Year.

So what does the business teacher do when school’s out for summer? He brings his considerable talents to the shores of his home, Lake Hopatcong.

Davis is looking forward to his second season as the Viking’s head coach. The LFST starts their 24th season at the Lake Forest Yacht Club. Davis swam for the LFST, and has had several stints as an assistant coach. Because of his experience and style, most swimmers finished last summer’s swim season with personal best at the regional trials and finals.

He says his biggest thrill is enjoying the younger swimmers celebrate an improvement in their time.

"It sends chills down my spine when I think about it. I know that years from now, when they have kids of their own, these 6, 7 and 8 year olds will remember telling me about dropping two seconds from their best time…It’s like I’ll be a part of their best childhood memories. Oh, and it’s nice to see their parents enjoy the moment too."

High school swimmers from all over the area also flock to capitalize on his skills. Swimmers from Morris Knolls, Jefferson Township, Morris County School of Technology, and Pope John XXIII High School join the LFST, because Davis knows how to hone the skills colleges look for.

"Swimming helped me get through, and pay for college. The discipline that swimming demands easily translates to real life. College admission officers recognize that swimmers bring that something extra to their school. I love challenging the older swimmers, and building their confidence," he said.

The LFST is open to all children of all skill level from 5 to 18.

Registration is on Sunday, April 27. Registration forms and additional information can be found at lfyc.org.

Practices start in June and are conducted daily at the Lake Forest Yacht Club. There are 10 swim meets (five home and five away), and the season ends the day of finals with a celebration. The swim team objectives are to provide swimmers with an environment where they can learn how to swim while enjoying their summer.